No distraction, either, for Saskatchewan Roughriders quarterback Cody Fajardo as his team prepares to play host to the rival Winnipeg Blue Bombers in the annual Labour Day Classic on Sunday at Mosaic Stadium in Regina.

“For me, personally, it doesn’t change much because Andrew Harris doesn’t play on defence (and neither does quarterback Nichols),” said Fajardo, who was in Saskatoon on Tuesday for the Synergy 8 Builders’ Drive For Kids Campaign charity golf event to raise money for the Saskatchewan Children’s Hospital.

“I think, as a team, we can’t use this as a distraction and we also can’t use this as being ‘we can get away with one by not playing our best football.’ They (Bombers) are still an 8-and-2 football team and they’re still leading the West. They’re the leaders in the West for a reason because they found a way to win games, right?”

The Bombers, already without the injured Nichols at starting quarterback, will also be missing the star running back, Harris, who has been suspended two games by the Canadian Football League for a doping violation after testing positive for Metandienone, a banned substance under the CFL’s drug policy and CFL’s players’ association (CFLPA).

“We’ve got to be able to focus at the task at hand, be able to play the best football against them,” added Fajardo, who’ll face a stingy and ball-hungry Winnipeg defence. “For me and our guys going against their defence, their defence is one of the best defences in the CFL. We’ve got to be able to get our job done because the only way you win football games is by scoring more points than the other team.”

So far, the Roughriders have scored more points than the opposition six times in nine games this season. Saskatchewan sits at 6-3, good enough for second place in the CFL’s West Division behind Winnipeg.

Farjardo knows well enough that the Labour Day Classic is a highlight of the regular season.

“You know, when I signed here, all I heard about was the Labour Day game, the Labour Day game, and it was getting to the Labour Day game that was the hard part. In professional football, it’s hard to look past certain games because every team has got an opportunity to win, but we’re excited about the opportunity. I think Mosaic Stadium is going to be rocking and, from everything I’ve heard, the fans go absolutely crazy on Labour Day so it’s a good chance to get a two-game swing on Winnipeg, who’s leading the West and we’re nipping at their heels.”

In many ways, the 2019 CFL schedule has worked in Saskatchewan’s favour, somewhat, as the Riders have met opposing teams at opportune times, with the opposition missing key players or struggling.

The stars have seemingly aligned.

“Yeah, a little bit, but, in professional football, there’s a salary cap for a reason,” pointed out Fajardo. “Every team is under the same salary cap so each team has good players, whether it’s their first-string or second-stringers. For us, we’ve been on the right side a few times. It’s just helped us build some momentum where we’re on a five-game winning streak. We’re a hot team right now. Winnipeg’s a hot team, as well. I think it’ll be a great atmosphere and a great opportunity to display both football teams.”

The 6-foot-2, 215-pound Fajardo has completed 171 of 234 passes for 2112 yards, eight touchdowns and four interceptions in nine games this season.

Fajardo was asked if his mind-set had changed since he was first pressed into service following an injury to starter Zach Collaros in the season-opener.

“That’s a good question. For me, when I was sort of pressed into action, it was a little bit different because that game plan was Zach’s game plan,” replied Fajardo. “Being able to sit in on the game plan meetings with (offensive co-ordinator) coach (Stephen) McAdoo and (quarterbacks) coach (Steve) Walsh, and being able to give them my opinion and input on what I feel comfortable with, and I don’t feel comfortable with, it has helped me perform at a higher rate and higher level and progress a lot quicker because everything coach McAdoo calls, I feel comfortable with and sometimes when you’re a back-up it’s a little harder because there are sometimes plays in your head where you’re thinking ‘I don’t really that play but the starter might like it’ so you’re kind of just handcuffed in that.

“Being the starter and having that say has really helped me progress.”

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